The Girl Who Became a Buddha

Story of Pajapati, the Woman Who Raised the Buddha Set in 5th Century BCE | Ages 12+

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Pajapati hates rules.

Her sister and co-queen of Kapilavastu, Maya, tries to gently hold her in check, but Pajapati is irrepressible. When Maya dies, shortly after giving birth to Siddhartha, Pajapati is inconsolable. Yet bring up Siddhartha she must—for the sake of her sister—and with extreme diligence, for it has been prophesied at Siddhartha’s birth that should he see suffering or death, he will leave the kingdom forever.

Despite the protection and restrictions, Siddhartha does live out the prophecy—and goes on to become the Buddha. But this is not his story. This is the story of Pajapati, the woman who raised him, and became a Buddha herself.

Set in the fifth century BCE, Maria Denjongpa’s compelling debut novel explores the nature of love and loss and the challenges of a woman on a spiritual journey.